Shops and business establishments remained closed across Imphal on August 18 as a 48-hour statewide general strike demanding an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) entered its second day. The strike has been called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) to press for updating the NRC before the Census in Manipur.
The shutdown began at midnight on August 17 and is scheduled to continue until midnight on August 19. Protests were also reported from several parts of the state, including Hiyanglam-Wabagai, where members of Apunba Nupi Lup and local youth staged demonstrations at Ema Market and Lamkhai Keithel.
JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said the agitation was aimed at pressing the government to address concerns over demographic changes and alleged illegal migration before conducting the Census.
The state government said it shared several of the concerns behind the demand but urged protesters to pursue them through peaceful and democratic means. Government spokesperson and MLA Sapan Ranjan said the government was also concerned about demographic changes and illegal migration and supported conducting the NRC before the Census.
Ranjan said the Manipur Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution in August 2022 seeking implementation of the NRC, following which the state government had continued discussions with the Centre. He said the state had also written to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on the issue.
The MLA said the government would continue pursuing the demand and indicated that a delegation of legislators could visit New Delhi to raise the matter with the Centre. He also called for legislators from different parties to present a united position.
The government, while backing the NRC demand, urged protesters to maintain peace and warned that prolonged shutdowns could affect daily-wage earners and other vulnerable groups. The JFD strike will continue until midnight on August 19.
